Enigmatic designs found in Desert

Enigmatic designs found in the Thar Desert of India

Researchers discover the largest handmade drawing in Thar consists of two geometrical figures, a faint spiral adjacent to an atypical serpent-shaped drawing.

Enigmatic designs found in the Thar Desert

India has always been at the center of civilisations, the oldest being the Indus Valley, however, a new discovery is piquing the interest of archaeologists worldwide. The discovery of a geoglyph, set of drawings, in the vast arid expanse of the Thar Desert has garnered eyeballs from every corner as debate ranges that it may be the largest drawing ever made.

 

The discovery published in Science Direct states that the data collected in the field, together with images taken by a drone, revealed the exceptional character of the graphic patterns near the Boha village in Rajasthan. Led by the father-son duo of Carlo and Yohann Oetheimer, the French researchers believe that these "lines may be at least 150 years old and possibly linked to the Hindu memorial stones surrounding them."

The discovered motifs consist of two geometrical figures, a giant spiral adjacent to an atypical serpent-shaped drawing, connected with a cluster of lines. The drawing extends over 20.8 hectares and totals more than half of the 48 km of lines observed. Meanwhile, three memorial stones are positioned at key points. The researchers believe that planimetric knowledge has been used to create this elaborate design. Planimetric elements in geography are those which are independent of elevation, such as roads, building footprints, rivers, and lakes.

 

India new Covid-19 Cases

 India new Covid-19 Cases

India records 1.32 lakh new Covid cases, 3,207 deaths in the last 24 hours.

India on Wednesday recorded 1,32,788 new coronavirus cases and 3,207 deaths in the last 24 hours. With over 26,500 cases, Tamil Nadu was the biggest contributor to the country’s daily caseload. Active cases reduced by more than a lakh. The total number of active cases stands at about 17.93 lakh right now.

Whereas in Odisha on Wednesday registered its highest ever single-day Covid-19 toll with as many as 40 people succumbing to the virus while 8,399 new cases were reported across the state in the last 24 hours. At present, there is 87,220 active case in the State. 

The country's Covid-19 recovery rate has been improving, though, with the number of cured patients per day continuing to outnumber new infections for nearly three weeks now. According to the Union ministry of health and family welfare, as many as 25,947,629 patients in India have recovered from Covid-19 till now, which accounts for a 92.09% recovery rate nationwide.

Benefits of Olive Oil For Dry Skin

Olive Oil For Dry Skin

Benefits Of Olive Oil: Get rid of that flaky and dry skin with the goodness of olive oil

Benefits of Olive Oil For Dry Skin 

One of the best kept beauty secrets in Italy is olive oil, which is used in everything, from kitchen recipes to beauty products. When we talk about any skin type, it's essential to know which ingredient works best for each skin type. Dry skin is equally sensitive as any other skin type. When it comes to choosing ingredients for dry skin, olive oil is one pick that can work like magic for people with dry skin. Olive oil has endless benefits which help in healing the skin. Olive oil is loaded with nutrients and is a natural humectant that attracts moisture to dry skin. Olive oil contains numerous antioxidants, vitamin E, vitamin K and other wonderful ingredients that also offer anti-aging benefits. It works as a natural moisturizer for the skin, olive oil is one beauty ingredient that we definitely need in our skincare regimen. And to help you with that, here's a guide on all the benefits of olive oil for dry skin.

Vajra Kavach

Vajra Kavach - Disinfection System

Mumbai-based start-up, Indra water has developed “Vajra Kavach Disinfection System” removes scourge of viral particles from equipment used by Corona warriors front line workers. This Vajra Kavach has been installed at multiple government hospitals in Maharashtra and Telangana, according to a statement by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW).

Vajra Kavach Disinfection System

   What is Disinfection System

1. The disinfection system removes any possible traces of SARS-Cov-2 virus from Personal Protective Equipment, coats, gloves, N95 masks, and gowns.
2. Thus, it enables the reuse of PPEs and other equipment used by healthcare workers.
3. In a way, it will protect the environment too, by reducing biomedical waste generation.
4. It will make personal protective equipment more available, affordable, and accessible.
5. Disinfection can be done in just a few minutes.
6. The system can achieve a 1,00,000-fold reduction in the number of microorganisms.

Where this System was Developed?

Validation and testing of the system was done by the Department of Biosciences & Bioengineering at IIT Bombay.

How testing was done?

It went through a long trial and testing process. Testing was done with Escherichia virus MS2; which is a single-stranded RNA virus similar to human respiratory viruses like influenza virus and coronavirus; and E.coli strain C3000. While testing it, full loads of virus and bacteria samples were placed PPE kit and were then placed inside Vajra Kavach. After disinfection cycle time, PPE was removed and the sample was rechecked to assess the growth rate and log reduction of the virus.

How this system disinfects materials?

The system comprises of multistage disinfection process having advanced oxidation, corona discharge, and UV-C light spectrum which inactivate viruses, bacteria, and other microbial strains from materials.

Good News for Drinkers

 Good News for Drinkers

Corona's second wave is slowly receding in many parts of the country. The capital, Delhi, is also witnessing a decline in the number of cases of corona positive cases. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has given permission for Alcohol Home Delivery in Delhi. However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has allowed domestic and foreign Liquor to deliver home. Delhiites can order wine through mobile apps and online web portals. The government has already imposed a number of sanctions on Corona. There were also restrictions on the sale of wine. But now the government has decided to crack down on alcohol sales. Apart from Delhi, the Chhattisgarh government has also allowed Alcohol home delivery. The decision was made in view of the crowds in front of the liquor store during the coronation.

'Potentially hazardous'? An asteroid the size of the Space Needle will pass near the Earth on Tuesday

 'Potentially hazardous'? An asteroid the size of the Space Needle will pass near the Earth on Tuesday

published by - USA Today at 4:17p.m. ET May 31, 2021 | Updated on 4:45p.m. ET May 31, 2021

A massive asteroid is expected to whiz by Earth in a relatively close encounter – 4.5 million miles –  on Tuesday, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 

The asteroid, known as 2021 KT1, is about 600 feet, the size of the New York Olympic Tower or the Seattle Space Needle.

NASA classified the asteroid as a “potentially hazardous object” because it is larger than 492 feet and within 4.6 million miles of Earth. It will fly near Earth at 40,000 mph, according to the laboratory, which tracks objects that drift close to Earth's orbital area. Though the asteroid is not expected to make a direct hit, NASA is keeping a close watch.

This asteroid is not the only one to come close to the Earth. An asteroid is known as 2021 GW4 was 12,000 miles away from the Earth's surface, traveling 18,700 mph in April. Astronomer Gianluca Masi, the founder of the Virtual Telescope Project said it was "an exceptionally close encounter."

Four smaller asteroids as big as an airplane or house are expected to pass the Earth from Monday to Wednesday;  none of them is potentially hazardous.

NASA defines an asteroid as “rocky fragments left over from the formation of the solar system 4.6 billion years ago.” This space matter is supposed to orbit the sun but occasionally strays from its orbital path because of the gravitational tug of planets. 

Scientists say the evolution of the planet could have stemmed from collisions of near-Earth objects, including comets and asteroids. One such theory holds for the extinction of dinosaurs 66 million years ago. The objects hitting the Earth can potentially hold water ice or carbon-based molecules, which are needed for animals and plants to thrive and cause geologic change.

Though Earth hasn't experienced a massive hit from an asteroid in decades, small asteroids pass between Earth and the moon's orbit several times every month, according to the Planetary Defense at NASA. Meteoroids, which are fragments of asteroids, less than 3 feet, can hit Earth's atmosphere and explode, creating bright meteor showers that people can watch from the balcony of their house. 

NASA is studying ways to deflect hits from asteroids in case one does pose a huge threat. One of these techniques, called the gravity tractor, would involve a spacecraft using mutual gravity attraction from a satellite to change the path of the asteroid. This method is still in the works.

HC - Twitter to Comply with new IT Rules

 HC - Twitter to Comply with new IT Rules

Twitter has to comply with the new Information Technology Rules for digital media if they have not stayed, the Delhi High Court said on May 31,2021 Monday.

Justice Rekha Palli issued notice to the Centre and social media platform Twitter seeking their stand on a plea by a lawyer, Amit Acharya, claiming non-compliance of the rules by it.

While Twitter claimed before the court that it has complied with the rules and appointed a resident grievance officer, the central government disputed the claim.

"They have to follow IT (rules) if it has not stayed," the court said.

In his plea, filed through advocate Akash Vajpai and Manish Kumar, Acharya said that he came to know about the alleged non-compliance when he tried to lodge a complaint against a couple of tweets.

During the hearing, central government standing counsel Ripudaman Singh Bhardwaj told the court that Twitter has not complied with the rules.

Acharya, in his plea, said that the new IT Rules took effect from February 25 and the Centre had given three months to every social media intermediary, including Twitter, to comply with them.

He contended that the three-month period got over on May 25, but no resident grievance officer was appointed by Twitter to deal with complaints regarding tweets on its platform.

The petition has sought direction from Twitter to appoint a resident grievance officer without further delay. It has also sought direction from the Centre to ensure that the IT rules are complied with.

Twitter had recently said it was committed to India as a vital market, but criticized the new IT rules and regulations, saying they "inhibit free, open public conversation".

Responding to Twitter's comments, the Centre had said the social media platform was leveling baseless and false allegations to defame India and dictating terms to the world's largest democracy.

The Centre alleged that Twitter refused to comply with new digital rules requiring identification of the originator of a flagged message and appointing grievance redressal officers and the purported commitment of the US-based firm to India not only sounds hollow but completely self-serving.

Under the new digital rules, social media companies like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter have been asked to identify within 36 hours the originator of a flagged message as well as to conduct additional due diligence, including the appointment of a chief compliance officer, nodal contact person, and resident grievance officer.